People do not think they are gossips. We are able to identify others who gossip but often think that our words are not gossip. We excuse our words thinking that if we are saying something factual, then we are not gossiping. However, the definition of a gossip in the scriptures is simply “a whispering.” Thus, […]

Peter concluded his list of recommendations in his second general letter with this closing statement: “For if these things are yours and abound you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (2 Peter 1: 8 -10) Now, why is it that we would not work to make home for these characteristics within our own lives? Peter states that without them we cannot see clearly and may end up spiritually blind and much more than forgetful.

Let’s expand some of the text in 2 Peter chapter one, beginning in verse 5.

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins…”

In Second Peter chapter one beginning in verse five is found the following admonition: “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to your virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul’s main admonition in his short letter to Titus was that he should both teach and speak the things that accompany soundness and steadfastness – and so that admonition follows to us as believers. We also are to speak and to do the same things, the type of things that, if followed, might end up getting us known for being “rock solid.”

To do otherwise would net nothing with God, and certainly wouldn’t work towards improving anything here. And if we go on thinking that, as Christians, we can continue to do the same selfish and contrary things we have always done and that we will somehow manage to be useful and acceptable before God, then we are seriously deluded.

Being hypocritical and not doing as we ought is pretty easy to do – just look around. The fruit of contrary living is everywhere. There are folks here and there that simply cannot muster up enough decency to do a thing for someone else or to be consistent from one day to the next in their personal dealings. The corporate world is slap full of them. Many people are decent to a point, scrupulous only as far as they remain in clear sight, and honest only as far as things have to do with them and their own plans. You know this sort is around. You also know that some of them profess to be Christians.

William G. Bass was engaged in a meeting with a local church, working in the neighborhoods of a small town in southeastern Florida. He and I had been asked by someone (and my, how you never seem to know just who) to find time to visit a recent convert who had been worshipping with a digressive group in town, seeking perhaps an encouraging word.

You may have seen this or something like it making its way around on the internet. There were attached remarks that had been added by some electronic editors that were not entirely accurate, so they have been removed by this editor. However, the remarks made by Mr. Scott are worthy of of reading and pondering. […]

We get only a few choices in this life that make any difference. The list of in what and where that we did not or do not have anything to say or any choice in matters is much, much longer.
We didn’t get to pick our parents. That was beyond our ability to affect. We didn’t […]

In this article, we will continue to look at the reasons why our prayers may be hindered. There are many people who blame God when prayers are not answered the way they thought they ought to be answered. The scriptures, however, teach us that we may be the cause for “no” answers in prayer.
Selfish Heart
James […]